July 1, 2012, Greene, N.Y., Cessna R172K Cutlass RG

At about 1530 Eastern time, the airplane experienced a hard forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The solo private pilot was not injured.While en route, the engine began to run rough, followed by a loss of power. Because he was unable to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to land downwind and touched down about midpoint of the runway. The nose landing gear contacted the runway surface hard. The No. 3 cylinder assembly was circumferentially fractured, separating the barrel and head. There also was structural damage to the engine firewall.

Editorial Staff

Friday, August 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A private pilot executed a hard forced landing due to a sudden loss of engine power en route.
The engine power loss was caused by a circumferentially fractured No. 3 cylinder assembly.
The airplane sustained substantial damage, including to the engine and firewall, but the pilot was not injured.

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At about 1530 Eastern time, the airplane experienced a hard forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The solo private pilot was not injured.

While en route, the engine began to run rough, followed by a loss of power. Because he was unable to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to land downwind and touched down about midpoint of the runway. The nose landing gear contacted the runway surface hard. The No. 3 cylinder assembly was circumferentially fractured, separating the barrel and head. There also was structural damage to the engine firewall.